Branding-machine.



' Patented May 17,1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

H., WAIBBL. BRANDING MACHINElv APPLICATION FILED AUG. 16, 1909.

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H. WAIBEL.

- BRANDING' MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 16, 1909.

Patented My 17, 1910.

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HENRY WAIBEL, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

BRANDING-MACHINE.

specification ofLettei-s Patent. Patented May 17, 1910.

Application filed August 16, 1909. Serial No. 513,033.

To all 'whom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that 1, HENRY Wnnsnn, citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Branding-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for branding the heads of barrels, kegs, and casks, the brands being applied by means of heated irons which are moved to and from the heads of the kegs, the keg being supported in adjustable position between the carriers for the branding irons.

The objects of the invention are first, to provide an improved branding machine of the kind stated having novel devices to adjust the same to barrels of various sizes; second to provide improved means for moving the branding irons to and from the barrel or keg; and third to provide improved means for supporting the barrel in position, including especially a movable table which allows the barrel to turn slightly so as to accommodate itself to the branding irons.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine with a keg therein. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the machine. Fig. 3 is a detail in side elevation of the barrel supporting and raising device as seen from the side opposite to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a plan of the table which supports the keg.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the frame of the machine comprises standards 1 at the ends connected by longitudinal rods 2 and 2a which are located in vertical alinement and are spaced from each other.

, On the outer sides of the standards 1 respectively are mounted shafts 17 and 18 eX- tendinghorizontally and crosswise of the standards, and substantially midway between the levels of the rods 2 and 2a. These shafts carry sprocket wheels 4. A chain belt 16 extends around the sprockets and is attached at 16 and 16Z1 to respective carriages 3, the attachment of the carriages being to opposite runs of the belt, so that when the belt.

is moved the carriers travel in opposite directions, or toward and from each other. The carriages consist of upright members or structures having wheels 3a, 3b and 3C which bear on the upper and under sides of the rod 2a, and a lower wheel 3d which bears on the inside of the lower rod 2. Each of these carriages supports a branding iron 7 projecting inwardly toward the keg which is supported between the carriages, and said branding iron is provided with suitable heating devices which need not be particularly described. Each carriage may be of any construction suitable to support the wheels in the positions stated and to support the branding irons at a distance above the frame of the machine, a special feature however being aknee or inwardly extending offset which supports the wheel 3b so that said wheel will roll under the end of the keg when the latter is in position for operation, thereby giving, in connection with the depending leg which carries the wheel 3d, a desirable rigidity and compactne'ss to the carriage and allowing the rods 2 and 2arto be made shorter than would otherwise be the case.

The shaft 18 at one end of the frame has thereon a notched wheel 5, as well as a loose lever 6 which carries a catch 28. This catch has an upper stem 23b slidably mounted in lugs 24 on the lever, and a collar 26 with a spring 25 coiled around the stem and bearing between the collar and one of the lugs to normally engage the catch with one of the notches in the wheel 5. The catch may be disengaged by pulling up on the finger piece 23a, which allows the lever to swing on the shaft to vary its angle of engagement with the wheel 5, thereby accommodating the lever to kegs or barrels of various sizes. That is, with a short keg the lever will be set so that the carriages are comparatively close together, while with a long `keg the lever will be changed to bring the carriages farther apart, the lever being at all times maintained in convenient position for operation. j

Located midway between the end frames 1 is a central standard 20 which is straddled by rack bars and depending from a head 10. The rods 2 and 2""L may be made to extend through holes in the standard 20. The rack bars 8 slide vertically between upper and lower guide lugs 22 and 22-1 on the standard, and the lugs 22 have centering screws 21 for centering the barrel support, the screws being preferably backed olf a little to allow the bars to swing a trifle. The head 10 has a central upwardly projecting bung plug 11 on which is fitted a table 9 which carries the barrel. This table has raised corners 9a, and

a hole 9b in the middle through which the plug 11 lits. The head 1() also has upwardly projecting studs 27 which extend through arc slots 9 in the table. This arrangement allows the table to turn horizontally on the plug 11 as a pivot, to a limited extent. This gives the barrel a slight amount of horizontal play or movement which permits it to accommodate itself to the plane of the branding irons, in order that they may come flatly against the heads of the keg when the pressure is applied.

The teeth 8il of the rack bars 8 are engaged by pinions 15 mounted on a shat't 19 which has its bearings in the standard 20. This shaft carries a ratchet 13 and a hand wheel 12, and the ratchet is engaged by a pawl 14 on the standard. y turning the hand wheel the rack bars and barrel support may be raised or lowered, the pawl being first released when the support is lowered and serving at other times to hold the support in adjusted position.

In operation, the barrel support is raised or lowered to proper position according to the size of the barrel to be treated, which is then mounted on the table with its bung hole fitting the plug 11 which centers the barrel in position. Then by swinging the lever in the proper direction the carriages are moved toward each other and the branding irons applied to the heads of the barrel, to impress the brand. By swinging the lever in opposite direction the carriers are backed oil' to permit removal of the barrel.

Various modiiications may be made within the scope of the invention. The table, particularly, can be modified to support boxes or the like, and the machine adapted for various other uses which will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The upper and lower bearings of the carriage wheels on the rods 2 and 2a insure rigidity of the carriages, which are preferably formed with spaced sides between which the rods extend, the wheels being grooved so that lateral displacement of the carriages is prevented.

What is claimed is:

l. In a branding machine, the combination of a frame having upper and lower horizontal longitudinal guide rods extending across the same, carriages for branding irons, mounted to travel on said rods and having bearings on the upper side of one rod and the lower side of the other and also having upwardly extending arms for supporting the branding irons, flexible means connected to the carriages for moving the same toward and from each other, and means to support the article to be branded above the rods and between said carriages.

2 In a branding machine, the combination of a Jframe having upper and lower parallel guides, carriages for branding irons mounted opposite to each other on said guides and each having a two point bearing on one side of one guide and a bearing on the opposite side of the other guide, and means to support the article to be branded, between said carriages.

3. In a branding machine, the combination of a frame having upper and lower parallel guides, carriages for branding irons, mounted oppositely on said guides, each carriage having an inwardly projecting knee or part provided with a bearing on the upper rod and a depending leg provided with a bearing on the lower rod, and means to' support an article to be branded, between said carriages.

4t. In a branding machine, the combination of a frame having upper and lower parallel guide rods, carriages for branding irons, mounted oppositely on said rods, each carriage having a front and rear roller bearing on the upper rod and a depending leg with a roller bearing on the lower rod and an upwardly extending support for the branding iron, and means to support the article to be branded between said carriages and above the rods.

5. A barrel support for a branding machine, comprising an upright member provided with a head at the top having a bung plug, and a table mounted on the head and having an opening through which the plug extends.

6. In a branding machine, the combination of a frame, carriers for branding irons mounted therein for rectilinear movement toward and from each other, and an article support located between the carriers, said support having limited lateral movement to aline the article with the irons.

7. In a branding machine, the combination of a frame, carriers for branding irons mounted thereon for rectilinear movement toward and from each other, and an article support located between the carriers and mounted on a vertical pivot, and having also limited lateral movement.

8. In a branding machine, the combination of a frame, a standard having vertical guides, a barrel support movable up and down in the guides, said guides being adjustably spaced from the support to permit limited lateral movement, and carriers for branding irons mounted on the frame on' opposite sides of the support.

9. In a branding machine, the combination of a frame, carriers for branding irons movable toward and from each other on the frame, a belt extending across the frame and connected to the carriers on opposite runs respectively, a lever, and connections between the lever and the belt adjustable to vary the position of the lever with respect to the belt. p

10. In a branding machine, the combination of a frame, carriers for branding irons i movable toward and from each other on the lever and engageable in dierent notches in frame, a belt extending across the frame and the wheel. lo connected to the carriers on opposite runs In testimony whereof, I do aix my sigrespectively, a lever, and connections benature in presence of two witnesses.

tween the lever and the belt adjustable to HENRY WAIBEL. vary the osition of the lever` with respect Witnesses: to the be t, said connections including a MONROE E. MILLER,

notched wheel, and a catch carried by the JOHN A. BOMMHARDT. 

